Pneumatic jet tow piddler



June 11, 1968 H. w. GOODNER 3,387,756

PNEUMATIC JET TOW PIDDLER Filed Nov. 2. 1966 II VI lllllll' 4 51' Y c INVENTOR.

HOMER W. GOODNER AENT 3,387,756 PNEUMATIC JET TOW PIDDLER Homer W. Goodner, Decatur, Ala., assignor to Monsanto Company, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Delaware Filed Nov. 2, 1966, Ser. No. 591,557 4 Claims. (Cl. 226-97) This invention relates to a device for delivering continuous filamentary strand or tow material at high speeds ing eflfective sealing, to maintaining rotational concentricity of components and to providing a structure that will withstand high fluid pressures.

It is an object of this invention to provide a novel jet piddler for advancing heavy denier tows at high speeds.

Another object of the invention is to provide a jet piddler capable of propelling tows of greater than 100,000 denier at speeds in the proximity of 1500 yards per minute with a nozzle rotation of at least 400 revolutions per minute.

Another object of the invention is to provide a jet piddler wherein the components are arranged to maintain rotational concentricity thereby improving balance characteristics while reducing undesirable vibration.

According to the invention in brief, a workable embodiment of the novel jet piddler comprises a pair of concentrically arranged spaced tubes having a pneumatic coupling connected at one end thereof and a jet nozzle assembly connected at the opposite end.

The pneumatic coupling is connected to a source of air under pressure that flows to the space between the tubes via a fluid pressure chamber. The central tube is open for the introduction of a tow thereto. Both of the tubes are journaled for rotation within the pneumatic coupling.

The jet nozzle assembly includes venturi means supplied with air under pressure flowing from the space between the tubes and past fluted means that connects the central tube to the outer tube imparting concentricity and balance in operation. The jet piddler is rotatably mounted in a framework and driven by conventional means.

A better understanding of the invention will be gained by referring to the following more detailed description and to the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is an elevation view of the jet piddler with portions broken away, and

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view showing separate components of the jet nozzle assembly and their interrelation.

Referring to the drawing, FIGS. 1 and 2, the novel jet piddler comprises a pneumatic coupling 2 connected to a source of air under pressure. A pair of concentric tubes 4- and 6, inner or central and outer respectively, extend from coupling 2 with the inner tube 4 being Spaced from the outer tube 6 by an annular space 8. Both tubes are adapted for rotation within coupling 2, the outer tube 6 being journaled within a bearing 10 and the inner tube rotating within a packing gland 12 that serves as a seal. Inner tube 6 is open exteriorly at one end thereof for introducing a tow thereto while annular space 8 is open to a fluid pressure chamber 14. Both tubes 4 and 6 extend for a length from coupling 2. Outer tube 6 has a States Patent 3,387,756 Patented June 11, 1968 pulley 16 mounted thereon which is connected to a motor (not shown) by a belt 18 for rotating outer tube 6. Pneumatic couplings, substantially of the type described above, are commercially available and with slight modification may be used.

The end of outer tube 6 is externally threaded and a hollow jet nozzle housing 20 is screw-threaded at one end thereof to threaded outer tube 6. At its opposite end, nozzle housing 20 has a threaded opening and a nozzle 22 having a tapered or trumpet shaped opening, is connected to the threaded opening of housing 20. Nozzle 22 is curved and is secured by a lock nut 24. Interiorly of nozzle housing 20, there is a fluted portion 26 and a reduced diameter portion 28 providing a shoulder 30.

A fiutted annular nut 32 is connected to the distal end of outer tube 6. The end of the outer tube 6, adjacent fluted nut 32, has slots 34 therein that open to the fluted sections of nut 32 to permit flow of air therepast.

A tapered-end hollow jet element or adapter 36, having a larger diameter portion 38 to provide a shoulder 40, is positioned in the nozzle housing 20 with shoulder 40 abutting against shoulder 30. A sleeve 42 having a collar 44, and a washer 46 are interposed between shoulders 40 and 30. The washer 46 is preferred to serve as a seal and as a locking means. The larger diameter portion of the jet element 36 has internal threads 48, and the inner tube 4 which is provided with threads 50 at its distal end is threaded through fluted nut 32 and into internal threads 48 of jet element 36. The larger diameter portion of the jet element is smaller in diameter than the inner diameter portion 28 of the nozzle housing 20 to provide an annular space 52 between the two. The nozzle housing 20 and the tapered end of the jet element define an annular fiuid pressure chamber 54 that is open to a venturi space or clearance 56 between the tapered end of jet element 36 and the complementary tapered trumpet end of nozzle 22.

For stability and support, the jet piddler is journaled for rotation in a fixed framework between pneumatic coupling 2 and nozzle housing 20.

In operation, outer tube 6 is driven, and since inner tube 4 is connected to outer tube 6, both tubes rotate together at a high speed of approximately 400 revolutions per minute. Air at a pressure of about p.s.i.g. (pounds per inch gauge), is delivered to the pneumatic coupling 2 and flows from fluid pressure chamber 14 into annular space 8 downwardly between tubes 4 and 6, through slots 34, through the flutes provided by nut 32, into annular space 52 and into fluid pressure chamber 54- in housing 20 via flutted portion 26.

Meanwhile, a heavy denier tow of substantially 100,- 000 denier is introduced into the open end of inner tube 4. The tow moves continuously through the inner tube 4, through the jet element 36 and enters the venturi 56. Here, the tow is pulled downwardly or jetted into the throat of nozzle 22 through the venturi eifect produced by the critical clearance between the tapered end of the jet element 36 and the tapered throat of nozzle 22. Nozzle 22 having a curved end piddes or deposits the yarn in coils at a high rate of approximately 1,500 yards per minute.

The novel jet piddler of the invention is designed so that the concentrically arranged components rotate together about a common axis of rotation with a minimum of runout and vibration. The free passage of air under pressure from the source of supply to the venturi produces a desired venturi eflfect for propelling heavy denier tows at high speeds.

It will be understood that the invention is not contemplated to be limited to the illustrated embodiment shown and described and that other embodiments are intended to be covered within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A pneumatic jet piddler comprising, in combination:

concentrically :arranged inner and outer tubes providing an annular space therebetween,

coupling means for rotationally mounting one end of each of said tubes and for defining a fluid chamber open to a source of air under pressure and to said annular space between said tubes,

said one end of said inner tube being open for the introduction of a tow thereto,

means defining a venturi at the opposite end of said inner tube, fluted means connecting said inner tube to said outer tube and permitting flow of air under pressure from said space between said tubes to said venturi means,

nozzle means for piddling the tow delivered thereto from said inner tube by said venturi means,

means for driving said outer tube.

2. A pneumatic jet piddler as in claim 1 further comprising means for journaling said outer tube intermediate its ends thereof.

3. A jet piddler device for attachment to a pneumatic coupling of the type having :a fluid chamber open to a source of air under pressure and including a pair of concentric inner and outer spaced tubes adapted for rotation therein, the space between. the tubes being open to the fluid chamber and the inner tube being open at the one end for receiving a tow, said jet piddler device comprising in combination:

a hollow nozzle housing secured at one end to the op posite end of said outer tube and having a fluted portion therein,

a flanged sleeve supoprted on and passing through said fluted portion,

a nozzle having a tapered throat secured to the opposite end of said hollow nozzle housing,

slots formed in the oposite end of the outer tube,

fluted annular means connected to said slotted end of the outer tube and connected to said inner tube,

an adapter tube spaced from the walls of said hollow nozzle housing, extending through and supported on said flanged sleeve and secured at one end to said inner tube, said adapter means defining a passage therethrough aligned with the bore of the inner tube and with said throat of said nozzle and having a tapered end critical-1y spaced from said tapered throat of said nozzle to provide a venturi therebetween,

said hollow nozzle housing and said adapter tube defining a fluid pressure chamber surrounding said tapered end of said adapter tube and being in communication with the annular space between the inner and outer tube via said slots, said fluted means, said space between said adapter tube and said fluted portion of said hollow nozzle housing,

means for driving said outer tube, and

means for journaling said outer tube between the pneumatic coupling and said hollow nozzle housing.

4. A jet piddler device as in claim 3, wherein a sealing member is interposed between said flanged sleeve and said adapter tube.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,447,982 8/1948 Koster 226-97 X 3,118,213 1/1964 Benson 28-1 3,259,954 7/1966 Dyer 281 M. HENSON WOOD, JR., Primary Examiner.

R. A. SCHACHER, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A PNEUMATIC JET PIDDLER COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION: CONCENTRICALLY ARRANGED INNER AND OUTER TUBES PROVIDING AN ANNULAR SPACE THEREBETWEEN, COUPLING MEANS FOR ROTATIONALLY MOUNTING ONE END OF EACH OF SAID TUBES AND FOR DEFINING A FLUID CHAMBER OPEN TO A SOURCE OF AIR UNDER PRESSURE AND TO SAID ANNULAR SPACE BETWEEN SAID TUBES, SAID ONE END OF SAID INNER TUBE BEING OPEN FOR THE INTRODUCTION OF A TOW THERETO, MEANS DEFINING A VENTURI AT THE OPPOSITE END OF SAID INNER TUBE, FLUTED MEANS CONNECTING SAID INNER TUBE TO SAID OUTER TUBE AND PERMITTING FLOW OF AIR UNDER PRESSURE FROM SAID SPACE BETWEEN SAID TUBES TO SAID VENTURI MEANS, NOZZLE MEANS FOR PIDDLING THE TOW DELIVERED THERETO FROM SAID INNER TUBE BY SAID VENTURI MEANS, MEANS FOR DRIVING SAID OUTER TUBE. 